The Rocky Mountain News editorial staff weighs in on the need for a CFO for Denver. From the editorial, "KPMG suggested that Denver consider adopting a different financial structure, and a mayoral task force has been working on possible changes since May. They are expected to propose that the city appoint a chief financial officer with oversight responsibility not only for budgeting and revenue collection, which are currently done by the mayor's office, but also payroll, accounting and financial statements, which are the city auditor's responsibility now."
"That idea doesn't sit well with Denver's elected auditor, Dennis Gallagher. He is generally supportive of having a CFO, but doesn't think these tasks should be transferred away from his office, saying it would weaken 'the very necessary checks and balances in the city as defined by our charter. Gallagher's concern, in part, is that his office's job of verifying that requests for payment vouchers are correct and complete might be compromised if given to a CFO who serves at the pleasure of the mayor. We tend to think that the quality of such work mainly depends on the competence and integrity of the individual regardless of whether he or she is elected or appointed.
"Yes, the question of checks and balances needs to be carefully considered any time a proposal changing the charter is drafted. But the biggest check on unbridled mayoral power is the auditor's ability to conduct performance reviews of city agencies. As it happens, no one is suggesting Gallagher's office be stripped of that responsibility. Presumably, any changes would even allow the auditor to focus more intently on such performance audits."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
7:01:17 AM 
|
|
